A gamble worth taking?

Elected and business leaders in region back vote to help economy

Casey Seile, Times Union

By Casey Seiler

Published 9:34 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, left, Assemblyman John McDonald, center, and Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, right, take part in a press conference at the offices of the Business Council of New York State on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013 in Albany, NY. Local elected officials held the press conference to urge New Yorkers to vote for Proposal #1, which would authorize four new casinos in three regions of New York State. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, left, Assemblyman John McDonald, center, and Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, right, take part in a press conference at the offices of the Business Council of New York State on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013 in Albany, NY. Local elected officials held the press conference to urge New Yorkers to vote for Proposal #1, which would authorize four new casinos in three regions of New York State. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, left, Heather Briccetti, second from left, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, third from left, and Assemblyman John McDonald take part in a press conference at the offices of the Business Council of New York State on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013 in Albany, NY. Local elected officials held the press conference to urge New Yorkers to vote for Proposal #1, which would authorize four new casinos in three regions of New York State. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Local elected officials and business leaders acknowledged concerns over the possibility of more casinos at a news conference on Thursday, but said it is a bet worth taking for the economic health of the greater Capital Region.

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings; Albany County Executive Dan McCoy; state Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes; and Garry Simmons of the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council joined Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, to tout the economic benefits of casino expansion.

"Currently, there is gambling going on inside and outside of New York," said Briccetti. "It's estimated that New Yorkers spend $1.2 billion every year outside of our boundaries in gaming venues nearby. That is lost jobs, it's lost revenues to New Yorkers — and there's no reason why we shouldn't try and recapture some of that revenue."

Introducing Jennings, Briccetti said she was about to make the requisite joke about the outgoing mayor's tan, which she said remained lustrous "because he goes and gambles in warmer places."

Jennings said gaming expansion fit into his two main goals during his time in office: attracting development that drives job creation, and "getting our fair share of resources from the state of New York."

"To me, this is a no-brainer," said Jennings. "Are there issues with it? Some people have identified those. Should we deal with them? Yes. ... My job is to get these jobs back into New York and the Capital Region."

McCoy said the additional revenue would help the county and others like it keep their budgets within the parameters set by the state property tax cap.

In the discussion that followed, Briccetti defended the language of the Nov. 5 ballot measure, which contains a warm description of the legislative intent to reduce property taxes, aid education and fill local coffers.

"I disagree with the assertion that it's a rosy picture," she said of the language, which is the subject of a lawsuit filed by a Brooklyn attorney who argues that the language tips into advocacy. "I think it says what ... the amendment will be used for." She compared it to language in transportation bond acts and similar measures.

Jennings said he was not convinced by reports that show proximity to a casino would tend to exacerbate gambling addiction in a geographic area.

"You can find statistics on either side of this, as far as I'm concerned," he said. "If people want to gamble, they're going to gamble — they're going to find a place to go to. ... I'd rather have a revenue stream that can deal with some of the issues that we might be identifying here. It makes more sense for us to be in control."

The state Budget Division estimates the eight-county greater Capital Region could reap more than $35 million from the new casinos: $12.7 in school aid, $22.8 million in local government aid.